Blaina Fire Station will shut its doors despite a year-long battle to fight to keep it open.

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service’s (SWFRS) fire authority decided the facility should close at a meeting this morning.

Voting on the decision was undertaken by secret ballot after the meeting heard “there was a serious anonymous threat” made against a member of the authority over the weekend.

No further details of the alleged threat were revealed. The act was described as “tarnishing” the peaceful campaign against the closure.

A total of 16 members agreed with the closure, with three disagreeing.

A total of 15 firefighters could lose their jobs as a result of the decision, but a report put in front of today’s meeting said that there could be other opportunities elsewhere.

Once the station closes, cover for Blaina will come from stations in Abertillery and Brynmawr.

Throughout the past year, the campaign has protested against the closure with thousands signing a petition and taking part in a consultation.

The closure comes as a part of the second phase of the SWFRS fire cover review.

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After the meeting, Margaret Griffin, the widow of firefighter Stephen Griffin who died aged 42, while battling a blaze in 1996 alongside colleague Kevin Lane, 33, branded the decision as “absolutely disgraceful”.

Firefighters Mr Griffin and Mr Lane lost their lives battling a raging house fire in Zephaniah Way in the village in 1996.

After the meeting, Mrs Griffin said: “We have no cover in Blaina at all. The people of Blaina have stood with us from day one. My main concern at the moment is the boys.”

Tina Griffin, 35, Margaret and Stephen’s daughter, said: “I think it’s unfair and unjust. I think SWFRS has taken two steps back from what the deaths of my father and Kevin achieved.

“We all thought that by doing a consultation, by getting people behind us that people power does work, so we were given hope.”

But the fire authority’s report said the council’s recommendation did not provide “robust reasons” to keep the station open.

According to the report, fire cover review data said there would be a 0% risk change if Blaina Fire Station closed.

Councillor Lisa Winnett, who represents Blaina, and was instrumental in the campaign, said: “We fought this tooth and nail. I’ve had the privilege of working with a phenomenal crew.”

She added: “I really am scared that lives are going to be lost. I feel it is going to happen but I don’t want it to.”

Glenn Lewis, station commander for Abertillery, Brynmawr and Blaina stations, said: “Obviously it’s disappointing. Working with the crew for the past couple of years, the professionalism and dedication is second to none.

“On the whole, it is a disappointing result, I don’t think anyone wants station closures.

"It’s obviously going to hit the hit the community hard, I think the whole of Blaenau Gwent is undergoing massive change and individuals from Blaina obviously see other service taken away from them.

“It’s another blow to the people of Blaina.”

No date has been set from the closure of the station.

According to Mr Lewis, he is awaiting guidance from team management on redeployment, relocation or retirement options for the crew.

He said: “Nothing has been decided [regarding the closure]. It is a decision for senior management with the fire authority and other partners.”

Chief Fire Officer Huw Jakeway said: “I take absolutely no pleasure in this. I certainly didn’t come into this job to be closing fire stations, but we have got to recognise that things have changed across our communities.”

He added: “The tragic events of 1996 with Stephen and Kevin transformed the British fire and rescue services, in training, skills, knowledge and understanding around the phenomenon of fire.”

Blaenau Gwent AM Alun Davies said: “This decision is absolutely devastating, not only to the people of Blaina but to the whole borough.

“Thousands of people signed a petition and took part in the consultation to air their concerns, genuine fears for the safety of their communities if Blaina was to close.

“I have said all along that I do not believe South Wales Fire and Rescue Service’s assurance that closing this station will have no effect on the number of fatalities.

"This statement is completely contradicted by their own calculations that it will take firefighters an extra two-and-a-half minutes to reach the scene of an emergency if Blaina was no longer operating.

“How can they assure the public those vital minutes will not affect fatalities?

“Firefighters in Blaina have served this area for generations and their sacrifices are well documented.

“To close the station of a first-class crew who risk their lives to serve their community is nothing short of a smack in the face and an insult to the memory of the two firefighters from Blaina who gave their lives in 1996.

“Today I am writing to Chief Fire Officer Huw Jakeway and the chair of the Fire Authority appealing for an alternative way forward for the upper Ebbw Fach valley.